Lorde Unites With MLB Player Who Inspired ‘Royals’

Meet Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer, George Brett

Every week has been a dream for 17-year-old Lorde since she rose to international stardom, but these past seven days especially. Last Thursday, she covered Nirvana, with Nirvana, at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Then she dominated the Coachella stage on Saturday. And on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, she finally met the inspiration behind her massive hit, “Royals,” from 2013’s five times platinum Pure Heroine.

“It was just that word,” the rising New Zealand-born star told VH1 last year. “It’s really cool.”

A spokesperson for Nat Geo later confirmed the photo in question, telling a Kansas City newspaper it’s the “only photo in our archives of a Royals baseball player signing autographs.” Lorde’s mom backed up the story, though photographer Ted Spiegel hadn’t heard “Royals” when questioned for the article — he had no idea his photo helped inspire one of the most popular pop songs of the decade.

This past March, Lorde played Kansas City and asked Brett to come, but he couldn’t make it. In his stead, he gave Lorde an authentic Royals jersey with his last name emblazoned on the back and a note that said, “Lorde, you are a Royal to me.”